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Brad's 19th Mini: Imitation Game

· By n0hk · Published 2024-01-24T19:50:06.199Z

Constructor's Note
This was tested by GandaPestile and Sophie. Thanks!
It's been over 2 years since I've constructed a mini, but I was inspired by the ones that Aaron's been putting out recently (which you can find over at https://crosshare.org/illogicaljoker). It seems like a good size of puzz - short enough to approachable, but including enough stuff for me to (hopefully) find some interesting parses.
Checking for previous play data...

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  • n0hk constructor · 2024-01-24T20:00:11.023Z
    1A A R_A R_A_ T_ = ARARAT <town in Victoria, Australia>
    4A ←DRAB + AT← = TABARD
    5A APIECE = I inside PE inside ACE
    1D CT + U_A inside AL = ACTUAL
    2D ALBEIT = ALBE(R->I)T
    3D <Uganda's situation> AFRICA = FAR* + CIA*
    • Probably Apocryphal 🤓5:11 · 2024-01-24T22:25:05.383Z
      And he hits 'em with the triple ellipses!
      • merlinnimue 🤓17:59 · 2024-01-25T00:09:55.431Z
        Way beyond my abilities or lack thereof as a solver and anything I could imagine in construction, sorry for beating a dead horse and being so so so far beneath you geniuses
        • Oliver Hardy 1:42 · 2024-01-25T08:54:17.003Z
          Don't worry; it was easy beyond my abilities!
        • Oliver Hardy 1:42 · 2024-01-25T08:58:08.387Z
          I made no chance!
          5A "checked", "inspired" I suppose are container indicators, yet I have never seen them in published cryptics. Please explain.
          • n0hk constructor · 2024-01-25T10:28:03.819Z
            Good question!
            Inspired is an annoying one, in that there are valid ways to interpret it as both a container indicator and an insertion indicator.
            Inspire could be "inhale" (taking something in), or it could be to "fill something [with the urge to]" (going into something).
            Here I'm using checked as an insertion indicator; with the meaning of 'to hinder' (meaning 3 in Chambers or 2b on Merriam Webster's online dictionary), and the parse "AA, B checked" to be equivalent to "B check AA".
            These double insertion/container clues (I've seen them referred to as 'turduckens') can be hard to spot/parse at the best of times, hopefully it didn't spoil the rest of the solve for you
          • Aaron Riccio 🤓4:35 · 2024-01-25T12:46:47.408Z
            I'm wondering now if you could've managed a grid where 4A also started with an A ;) That said, I liked 4A and got a kick out of "Uganda's situation" in 3D and "right to focus on questioning" in 2D.
            • n0hk constructor · 2024-01-25T18:20:13.920Z
              I saw the chance for it, and deliberately didn't in case people mistakenly assumed the gimmick I was going for (and I was really happy with most of the clues).
              Hope all is well
            • Oliver Hardy 1:42 · 2024-01-25T13:52:47.436Z
              Thanks for your reply. You are obviously several leagues above me so I'll graciously surrender.
              • Hector 8:11 · 2024-01-25T22:56:56.255Z
                I'll take the L on this difficult but thoughtfully designed puzzle
                1A
                A great road to skip every second town in Victoria, Australia (6)
                1
                2
                3
                4
                5
                Across
                1. 1A
                  A great road to skip every second town in Victoria, Australia (6)
                2. 4A
                  Cheerless at returning outdated clothing (6)
                3. 5A
                  Each exercise I checked inspired by expert (6)
                Down
                1. 1D
                  Alfred accepts court case from Uganda as substantial ... (6)
                2. 2D
                  ... even though Albert's right to focus on questioning ... (6)
                3. 3D
                  ... Uganda's situation during far-flung CIA operation (6)
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